Darn Stupid Brother You Are

(Ava's

POV)

The rumours reached me first. They always did. Moving through the hallways like ghosts, brushing past my ears, tickling my senses. And the rumours were always the same filled with fragments of conversations, bits and pieces of secrets that others tried so hard to keep buried. But nothing stayed hidden forever, not here. Not when I was around.

That morning, I overheard two girls talking in the lounge. I leaned against the wall, pretending to check my phone, but every word they said sliced through me like a blade.

"I swear, I saw them," one of the girls said, her eyes darting around to make sure no one was listening. "Angel and Hendrix, they were... you know... close." "Close?" The other girl snorted. "Girl, you mean close, close?"

"Yes, I'm telling you. They were practically glued together. And you should've seen the way he looked at her. I mean, who does that with their stepsister?"

My blood ran cold. Angel and Hendrix. I should have known. So they still got the thing going? All the pieces started falling into place. The way Hendrix's eyes still lingered on her during therapy sessions, the way Angel always seemed to tense up whenever Hendrix walked into a room. It was sick they were still keeping at whatever they had going on between them. Disgusting. But it was also the confirmation I needed.

They weren't just stepsiblings. There was something more. Something that made me want to tear my hair out, claw my way through the walls of this damned place, and scream.

The memories started flooding back, unbidden, and I felt myself sinking, spiraling into the darkness that I had fought so hard to keep away.

>>>I was only thirteen when it started. I remember the way my stepbrother looked at me that day, his eyes dark and hungry, like he could devour me whole. "Come here, Ava," he'd said with a warped kind of sweetness. And I was so stupid, so naïve. I didn't see the warning signs. I didn't recognize the danger in his eyes.

And by the time I realized what was happening, it was too late. His hands were on me, rough and demanding, stealing pieces of me that I would never get back. "You're mine, V," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "You'll always be mine.">>>

I blinked back the tears that wanted to spill over. No. I wouldn't let myself go there. Not now. Not when I had bigger things to deal with. Angel. Hendrix. They were my targets now. And I wasn't going to let anyone stand in my way. As I made my way back to my dorm, I passed by Thomas sitting on the bench near the courtyard. He looked up as I approached, his face lighting up with that stupid, goofy smile of his. And that's when I realized the way he watched Angel, the way he'd always seemed to gravitate towards her. It all made sense.

Thomas had feelings for her too.

I felt a rush of adrenaline, my mind spinning with possibilities. This was perfect. If I could turn him against Angel, if I could drive a wedge between them, maybe I'd finally be able to break her. And breaking her would mean hurting Hendrix. That was something I could live for.

I sauntered over to Thomas, making sure my movements were slow. I could feel his eyes on me, tracing every curve of my body, and I smirked. Men were all the same easy to manipulate, easy to control. I'd learned that the hard way. "Hey, Thomas," I said, leaning against the bench, my voice soft and seductive. "You look lonely. Mind if I join you?"

He blinked, taken aback. "Uh, sure, I guess." He shifted, making space for me.

I sat down, letting my leg brush against his, just enough to send a spark between us. "You know, you've been spending a lot of time with Angel lately," I said, my tone casual. "What's that about?"

He stiffened. "She's... she's just a friend."

I laughed, the sound light and airy. "Oh, come on, Thomas. We both know that's not true. I see the way you look at her. You like her, don't you?"

His cheeks turned red, and he looked away, muttering something. "I.... I gotta go...do some workout." He cleared his throat and stood before I could utter another word.

"Hey, I wasn't done talking to you-❞

And he was gone.

Strange. Or rather, fascinating.

...

I'd known Angel was a problem from the moment I laid eyes on her. There was something about the way she carried herself and that effortless sweetness. It made my skin crawl. But lately, things had gotten worse. Her eyes followed Hendrix with a look I'd seen one too many times. I wasn't an idiot. I knew what desire looked like.

I overheard them yesterday. They were whispering by the entrance of the common room. I'd been out of sight and hidden behind one of the pillars, but I saw the way Hendrix leaned into her like he was drawn to her. And when she placed her hand on his arm with that light touch, something in him softened.

It made me sick. I dug my nails into my palms until I felt the sting, reminding myself to keep my rage in check. I'd been here before and had been cast aside for someone else's happiness. But I'd be damned if I let it happen again. Angel would regret trying to take what was mine.

And then there was Thomas. Poor, desperate Thomas. I had my suspicions about him and Angel and with the way he acted the last time I wanted to talk to him, it wasn't helping his case. But when I saw him staring at her from across the cafeteria today with that hunger in his eyes, I knew for certain he was another fool taken in by her act.

My breath quickened as I stood there, hiding behind the vending machine, and my mind raced with possibilities. Two men tangled up with one girl-it was almost poetic how easy it was to ruin things when hearts were involved. Especially when one of those hearts had always belonged to me. Hendrix was mine. I had claimed him long before Angel ever started showing interest.

But I had to be smart about this. Manipulation was a delicate art and one I'd mastered long ago. You don't just attack. You plant seeds, you make people question themselves until they're drowning in their doubts. And Thomas was the perfect tool.

This time, I had to be more strategic.

Later that night, I found him sitting on the edge of the fountain just outside the dorms, and his shoulders were hunched over. He looked lost, and I could use that. I smoothed down my hair and made sure my skirt was a little higher than usual. Then I approached him with that slow and measured walk I'd perfected.

"Hey, you look like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders," I said, sliding onto the ledge beside him, close enough that our legs touched. He glanced at me, startled, and I flashed him a smile, letting my fingers brush over his arm. "You wanna talk about it?"

He shifted, uncomfortable, and I could see the battle in his eyes-stay or leave. But he stayed. They always stayed. "It's nothing, Ava," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Just...stuff."

I leaned in, my breath warm against his ear. "Come on, you can tell me," I whispered, letting my fingers trail down his arm. "I'm a good listener."

He stiffened, but didn't move away. "Honestly speaking, it's...Angel," he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's just...I don't know."

I suppressed a smile. "Complicated?" I offered, letting the word roll off my tongue like honey.

He nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. Complicated."

I shifted even closer, pressing my body against his, feeling the tension in his muscles. "You deserve better, you know," I murmured, my lips brushing against his ear. "Someone who actually sees you. Someone who knows what they want." His eyes darted to mine, and for a second, I thought I'd won. But then he pulled back, shaking his head. "No," he said firmly. "It's not like that. I'm not... I'm not interested in anyone else."

I felt the hot burn of rejection, and my nails dug into his arm before I could stop myself. "You're really gonna waste your time on her?" I spat, my voice turning venomous. "She doesn't even care about you, Thomas. She's probably just using you to make Hendrix jealous."

His expression hardened, and he pulled away, standing up. "You don't know anything about her," he snapped. "Angel's...different."

I stood up too, my fists clenched at my sides. "You're an idiot," I hissed. "You're letting her walk all over you, and for what? Some stupid fantasy? She'll never choose you, Thomas. You'll always be second best."

He turned away from me, his shoulders tense, and for a moment, I thought he'd walk away. But then he glanced back, his eyes meeting mine with a look that sent a chill down my spine. "And you'll always be the one who couldn't handle being second," he said quietly. "That's the difference between us. Please, stop trying to talk to me. I don't know what the hell you're trying to get at, but it won't work, so stay away."

I watched him walk away, my heart pounding in my chest. He was right. I'd never been able to handle being second. But this time, I wouldn't be. This time, I'd tear them apart, piece by piece, until there was nothing left but ashes.